Tamares Perez
Tamares, who comes from the Dominican Republic, is Studio Manager at BronxGear. She enjoyed sharing with fresh art, the journey she took to get to this position.
Like Alejandra and Cinderella, Tamares became interested in BronxGear through her daughter, who first started painting there in 1997. Tamares saw Alejandra working with the children, and wanted to paint too, but thought it was only for children. After speaking with Alejandra, Carey, and McKendree McKie (a volunteer at The Point who introduced BronxGear to the art of silk painting), Tamares was told she could paint with BronxGear. She was very happy to be able to start painting.
In 1998, Carey showed Tamares how to do everything involved with the BronxGear business--cataloging, selling, and caring for the scarves. Though she began as a volunteer, Carey asked Tamares if she wanted to work as a paid employee. Again, Tamares was thrilled to have the opportunity to become further involved with BronxGear.
Carey praises Tamares for her ability to break down design ideas and present them in a simple way to the children she is working with. The results of the scarves made with Tamares's guidance, Carey likens to the work of some of the Modern Master painters of the 20th century.
A highlight for Tamares, was when she assisted Carey at a silk painting workshop BronxGear led at New York City's Children's Museum, in 1999.
Tamares's greatest joy is making scarves with the children. She is inspired by creating the scarves and selling them outside the center. She has also found that she now also likes to paint on paper, something she didn't do much of before getting involved with BronxGear.
Tamares Perez
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